The Singapore Medical Association (SMA) welcomes the clarification made by the Minister for Health last Sunday on the position of the Government on this matter, in particular, the emphasis on self-regulation of aesthetic practices by professional bodies.

We are also heartened by the circular issued by the Director of Medical Services to all medical practitioners last Monday which spelt out the principles of safeguarding medical standards in Singapore as well as the press release, 'MOH clarifies position on aesthetic medicine', dated the same day.

The vast majority of doctors in Singapore, including those that provide aesthetic services, are ethical professionals who earn an honest day's living by caring for their patients. Even if some of the mentioned aesthetic practices are not grounded in the most robust body of scientific evidence, the use of the term 'snake oil' is insensitive to many in the medical profession.

Repeated use of this term by The Straits Times, notwithstanding that it was, as we understand it, uttered on a single occasion by a person of authority, is hurtful to doctors and regrettable. It does little to raise the standard of discussions on this difficult issue of regulating aesthetic practices.

Doctors understand that with great powers and trust vested in them by the public, come greater responsibility and accountability. Likewise, we hope that the local media will exercise better discretion going forward so that readers are better served with more constructive reporting.

Dr Raymond Chua
Honorary Secretary
48th SMA Council

EDITOR'S NOTE: We reported accurately the quote in question and used it whenever it was relevant to the stories we ran. We fail to see how being factual in our reporting can lower the level of discussion on this issue. That must depend on the quality of the arguments used by doctors, which is entirely in the hands of the profession.